European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker — shown here at right with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last November — has taken the EU’s free trade pact with Canada off the fast track by allowing each EU member nation’s parliament to ratify the deal. (PM.gc.ca)

EU bows to pressure, gives member parliaments say in Canada trade deal

Brussels | Reuters –– The European Commission bowed to pressure to give Europe’s parliaments the right to ratify a landmark free-trade deal with Canada, a decision meant to address public concerns but which could wreck Europe’s broader trade strategy. In the face of popular suspicion about secretive trade deals benefiting big companies, Commission President Jean-Claude […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

European Commission to extend glyphosate licence for 18 months

Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission is extending by 18 months its approval for the herbicide glyphosate, used in Monsanto’s Roundup, Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said on Tuesday. Contradictory findings on carcinogenic risks have thrust the chemical into the centre of a dispute between EU and U.S. politicians, regulators and researchers. Campaign groups urged […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

EU officials to decide on Roundup after political impasse

Brussels | Reuters –– An impasse between EU nations on whether to allow Monsanto’s Roundup and similar herbicides to continue to be sold means that the European Commission, rather than national politicians, will decide the issue next week. With most EU attention focused on Britain’s shock decision to quit the bloc, everyday work continued in […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

EU countries refuse to back new licence for glyphosate

Brussels | Reuters — EU nations refused to back a limited extension of the herbicide glyphosate’s use on Monday, threatening withdrawal of Monsanto’s Roundup and other weed-killers from shelves if no decision is reached by the end of the month. Contradictory findings on carcinogenic risks have thrust the chemical into the centre of a dispute […] Read more